Automatic meter control



April 12, 1938. I M P TlsH 2,113,947

AUIIOMATIC METER CONTROL Filed Aug; 6, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f/e. Z

April 12, 1938. M POT-[15H 2,113,947

' AUTOMATIC METER COINTROL Filed Aug. 6, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 FIG-- Patented Apr. 12, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,113,947 v AUTOMATIC METER ooN'rRoL Morris Pottish, New York, N. Y. Application August 6, 1936, Serial No. 94,665

1 Claim.

The'invention relates to automatic meter control. The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple structure in connection with a meter so that when the meter indicator reaches 3 any predetermined meter reading there will be automatically initiated a predetermined electrical or mechanical action.

Many uses will suggest themselves. An important use is in connection with the altimeter H to rise, dip, swerve, or proceed in any other pre- 15 determined course, as, for example, a rise and swerve to the right.

Other important objects and uses of the invention will readily become apparent to the reader of the following specification and the drawings referred to therein.

In the accompanying drawings showing embodiment of the invention, similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 represents a side plan view.

Figure 2 represents a front plan view.

Figure 3 represents arear' plan view.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 represent side, front and 5 rear plan views, resp'ectively,of the same invention and device under a slightly-changed arrangement of parts, the essential inventive features being identical, as will be hereinafter explained.

The walls I, 2, 3 of the meter enclose the or dinary meter apparatus which is not shown in thedrawings. The rod 4 controlling the meter indicator 5 is connected to the meter apparatus in ordinary fashion, and the connection is not shown because it may vary and is well-known. The face (which is also the front wall) I and the indicator 5 of the meter are covered and protected by the usual glass or transparent covering 6.

The front wall l'of the meter contains as indicated a circular transparent window I so disposed as to be beyond the perimeter of the walls I, 2, 3 enclosing the meter apparatus and further so disposed as to be directly opposite the path traversed by the circular portion 8 of the meter indicator 5 when the latter is rotated about its controlling rod 4.

Two opaque tubes 9, ID are supported by rods ll, l2, I3 as indicated so as to be capable of rotation about a circle equal and opposite to the window 1 in the front wall I of the meter. The rear supporting rod I3 has a bend M which rests ina socket l5 firmly'attached to the rear 'wall 3 of the meter. There is a knob |6- connected to the front supporting rod l l bya horizontallydisposed 'rod I] which runs througha supporting hollow tube l8 which in turn is supported by a brace N which may be attached to an extension 20 of the meter front wall l. V l i The front tube 9 contains within it a sourceof light, as an" electric light bulb 2|. Areflec-- tor 22may be inserted if greater inten'sityo-f the light beam is-desired. There may be a small opening 23 topermit the operator to see if the bulb 21 is lit. 'Thetub'e 9 also has a window or" opening 24 'to permit the passage of the light" beam toward the meter. Just above this window 24 is attached an indicator pointer 25.

The rear tube I contains a similar window or opening 26, and contains within it also an ordinary photo-electric cell 21. The method of arranging and connecting this photo-electric cell 21 in relay and circuit so that an interruption of light activating the cell will initiate'a prede-.- termined electrical or mechanical action is wellknown in the art and is therefore not shown in the drawings or explained herein.

To operate the device, the knob I6 is turned to set the indicator pointer 25 at any meter reading desired as indicated on the face I of the meter. This of course carries both tubes 9, II) to positions directly opposite that reading. The current to light the electric bulb 2| is turned on, and then the current to the system of relay and circuit connected to the photo-electric cell 21 is turned on. These currents are turned on by simple switches not shown in the drawings because well-known in the art. If desired, a single switch may be used of the well-known type which will turn on first the bulb current and second the relay and circuit current.

The beam of light from the bulb 2| passes out of the tube 9 through its window 24, on through the transparent covering 6, on through the other windows 1, 26, and in through the rear tube II) to activate the photo-electric cell 21.

This simple action sets the automatic meter control in' operation. When the meter indicator reaches the reading at which the indicator pointer 25 hasbeen set, the circular portion 8 of the meter indicator 5 will pass before the front tube window 24 to cut off the light which is activating the photo-electric cell 2! and thus initiate the predetermined action in accordance with the electrical relay and circuit previously determined and installed.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show the same device with ing rod 12, the upper part of the supporting arms ll, l3, the hollow supporting tube I8, the brace l9, and the wall extension 20. It also makes the device less cumbersome and gives greater visibility of the meter face I.

There is also a possible variation by doing away entirely with the movable tube 9 containing the source of light 2| and having instead a stationary light located in such position in front of the meter that when lit it will activate the photo-electric cell 21 in no:matter what position the latter may be. However, I believe that the embodiment of the source of light 2| in the movable tube 9 is preferable.

It can be seen that the foregoing invention discloses a system for automatic control in connection with a meter, and that the same may beused to play an important role in aircraft operation, among other uses While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specified terms it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials can be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed herein, and it may be used for the purpose of auto matic control of any other mechanical or electrical devices. I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention could be carried out by other means. Also while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combination and relation described some of these may be used and others omitted without interfering with the general results outlined, and the invention extends to such use.

Having described my invention, what I desire and claim to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In an automatic meter control, a meter having a turnable indicator arm acting across its face, a circular transparent window mounted on said meter and extending along the path of said indicator arm and having a free perimeter edge along which said meter may be mounted on a dashboard or panel, a transparent cover for the face of said meter, a light and coacting photoelectric cell on opposite sides of said circular transparent window and transparent cover and adapted to control a circuit when said indicator arm passes there-between, radial arms on opposite sides of said meter and supporting said light and said photo-electric cell on the ends thereof, and ashaft extending through the center of said meter and supportingrsaid radial arms and movable through 360 coaxially with said indicator arm to support said cell and said light in predetermined positions along said circular transparent window' through a distance of 360,

whereby said meter may be mounted by said free perimeter edge in an opening in a dashboard or similar substantially flat surface with its face substantially-flush with the face of said dashboard.

MORRIS POTTISH. 

